Magic System's recordings, in the Zouglou dance style, have featured in the charts throughout Africa (selling over 1.5 million CDs), the West Indies and in France, where the band became one of the most popular modern African artists.
Ca me dégban
Magic System Lyrics
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Le zouglou
George Aboké, Claude Tamoh
Et tous ceux qui ont apporté leur soutient
Grâce à vous aujourd'hui il vit
Wachaiii
Partis d'Abidjan on est venu à Paris oh dans le but de travailler
On a dinmin dinmin jusqu'à on est rentré dedans oh
Pour sortir c'est difficile oh
Pour ceux qui n'ont pas compris on dit on a fuit le Zouglou oh pourtant on va dja dedans oh
Ça me degban lehi oh ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh
Ça me degban lehi oh ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh
C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh
C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh
Kenzo Kenzo Cash money
Cherkan Cheick Yvan
Dj Skalp merci là-bas
Eheeeehh
Quand le Zouglou a été crée
Notre objectif oh c'était de l'exporter
Grâce à Dieu aujourd'hui
Partout dans le monde oh
On écoute le Zouglou oh
Peut être c'est pas grâce à nous
Mais molo molo oh on a passé le message
Des querelles inutiles au sein de la famille
Qui ne font pas avancer
Artistes zouglou oh restons unis pour pérenniser le mouvement
Ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh eh
Ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh eh
Ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh eh
Ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh eh
Parents du campus zougloumania esprit de yop potes de la rue system gazeurs oh (surchocs)
Salopards garagistes poussins chocs espoir 2000 marabouts méléké super chocs ayooo
Petit Denis Fitini Dezy Molière oh Lato Crespino Patrons oh
Mercenaires les côcôs les djigbos anti palu leni zouglounet les copines ayooo
J'allais oublier une personne
Vieux gazeur
Le tonton de tout ce zouglou là
The song "Ça me dégban" by Magic System is a tribute to those who believed in the Zouglou movement from the beginning. The song opens by mentioning George Aboké and Claude Tamoh who were among the pioneers of the Zouglou movement. The lyrics appreciate their contribution and support to the movement which made it possible for it to thrive over the years. The lyrics also recognize the challenges they faced while trying to establish the genre of music in Paris. The artists had to hustle and work hard to make a name for themselves, which was not easy. The lyrics mention that despite the hurdles, they were able to make it, and today, the Zouglou movement is known and loved globally.
The chorus of the song, "Ça me degban," loosely translates to "It's fun for me" in English. The lyrics further elaborate that the Zouglou movement is the source of their happiness and pride. Even though they faced some difficulties while establishing themselves in France, they never forgot their roots. The artists went ahead to remain united, and their goal was to export the Zouglou movement globally, and today they have achieved that.
Lastly, the song mentions various artists and supporters who have contributed to the success of the Zouglou movement. These names include Kenzo, Cash Money, Cherkan, Cheick Yvan, DJ Skalp, and Vieux Gazeur. The lyrics recognize them as pioneers and veterans of the Zouglou movement, and their contribution has been significant in making the genre what it is today.
Line by Line Meaning
Hommage à tous ceux qui à la première heure ont cru en ce mouvement
We pay tribute to those who believed in this movement from the very beginning
Le zouglou
The Zouglou music genre
George Aboké, Claude Tamoh
George Aboké and Claude Tamoh, pioneers of Zouglou music
Et tous ceux qui ont apporté leur soutient
And everyone who supported it
Grâce à vous aujourd'hui il vit
Thanks to you, it is thriving today
Wachaiii
An expression of excitement or enthusiasm
Partis d'Abidjan on est venu à Paris oh dans le but de travailler
We left Abidjan and came to Paris to work
Arrivés à Paris affaire de musique de blanc oh c'était compliqué
When we arrived in Paris, dealing with white people's music was complicated
On a dinmin dinmin jusqu'à on est rentré dedans oh
We persisted until we made it
Pour sortir c'est difficile oh
It's hard to get out once you're in
Pour ceux qui n'ont pas compris on dit on a fuit le Zouglou oh pourtant on va dja dedans oh
For those who don't understand, we say we ran away from Zouglou music, but we're still in it
Ça me degban lehi oh ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh
I feel overwhelmed by the Zouglou spirit
C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh C'est le Zouglou lehi oh
It's the Zouglou spirit
Kenzo Kenzo Cash money
Shoutout to Kenzo and his cash money
Cherkan Cheick Yvan
Shoutout to Cherkan and Cheick Yvan
Dj Skalp merci là-bas
Thanks to Dj Skalp over there
Quand le Zouglou a été crée
When Zouglou music was created
Notre objectif oh c'était de l'exporter
Our goal was to export it
Grâce à Dieu aujourd'hui
Thanks to God, today
Partout dans le monde oh
It is everywhere in the world
On écoute le Zouglou oh
People are listening to Zouglou music
Peut être c'est pas grâce à nous
Perhaps it's not because of us
Mais molo molo oh on a passé le message
But slowly, we conveyed the message
Des querelles inutiles au sein de la famille
Unnecessary quarrels within the family
Qui ne font pas avancer
Do not help the cause
Artistes zouglou oh restons unis pour pérenniser le mouvement
Zouglou artists, let's stay united to sustain the movement
Ça me degban lehi oh Ça me degban lehi oh eh
I feel overwhelmed by the Zouglou spirit
Parents du campus zougloumania esprit de yop potes de la rue system gazeurs oh (surchocs)
Acknowledgment to the supporters of Zouglou music from campuses, Yop neighborhood, and street friends, System Gazeurs, and Surchocs.
Salopards garagistes poussins chocs espoir 2000 marabouts méléké super chocs ayooo
Acknowledgment to Salopards, Garagistes, Poussins Chocs, Espoir 2000, Marabouts, Méléké, and Super Chocs.
Petit Denis Fitini Dezy Molière oh Lato Crespino Patrons oh
Acknowledgment to Petit Denis, Fitini, Dezy, Molière, Lato Crespino, and Patrons.
Mercenaires les côcôs les djigbos anti palu leni zouglounet les copines ayooo
Acknowledgment to Mercenaires, Les Cocos, Les Djigbos, Anti Palu, Leni Zouglounet, and the Copines.
J'allais oublier une personne
I almost forgot someone
Vieux gazeur
Shoutout to Vieux Gazeur
Le tonton de tout ce zouglou là
The uncle of all Zouglou music
Writer(s): Adama Fanny, Pascal Koeu, Narcisse Sodoua, Etienne Bouebi Kohou, Salif Traore
Contributed by Bentley J. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Mero
on Amoulanga
Beautiful